Landschap met rivier en kasteel 1613 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle crafted this landscape with river and castle using etching around the mid-17th century. Notice how the castle sits nestled amidst the trees, the landscape is very much dominated by nature. The path with the two figures, one leaning on a staff, immediately calls to mind Saint Christopher, often portrayed with a staff, guiding wanderers across treacherous waters. Here, the staff is a symbol, not only of physical support but of spiritual guidance. Over time, the figure with a staff evolved in meaning, appearing in numerous contexts, from religious iconography to secular depictions of travelers and pilgrims. The image has evolved, but it is still able to engage viewers at a deep, subconscious level, evoking feelings of wanderlust, reflection, or introspection. The symbolic weight of the journey remains a timeless motif, recurring throughout art history, each time imbued with new meanings, yet always resonant with our collective memory of journeys, both physical and spiritual.